Iron County register., 1887-02-03
"A GRAVE ERROR"

Sir John Mcdonald. the Canadian Premier,
| Thinks the Passage of the Fisheries Bill
by the United states Senate a Grave En-
! ror, and Says Canada Will Not Recede
f, From Her Position,
| OTTAWA, Ont, Jan. 26-An American
newspaper cores pondent called upon the
Canadian Premier yesterday, and this is
what Sir John Macdonald said: 81 feel
that the people of the United States do
not fully comprehend our position here in
! Canada"
| Sir John was found in the handsome IL
! brary of the residence on the outskirts of
the newly-fedged City of Ottawa. He
| continued very much as follows: ssThe
| news that the United States Senate
! passed the Edmunds bill providing for
| the so-called retaliation against Canada,
! because the fisheries treaty has been rig
| idly enforced, is not a surprise to me.
l have had reason to think the pres
! ent Congress would pass some
! thing of the kind. Ihave had information
! to that effect. I regret very much that
| Congress has gone so far. Ifeel confident
| that there is some misapprehension in the
! United States. Here in Canada we wish
| to live in peace and harmony with our
neighbors across the border. We have our
| fishing treaty, which was framed by the
| representatives of Great Britain and the
! United States in 1918. We consider that
| we have only acted as that treaty con-
| cedes we may. The people of the
! United Stata ought to be willing
! to allow US the treaty rights
which their own representatives
| granted. The Dominion Government has
stood on the provisions of the treaty, and
| it has endeavored to carry them out in
harmony with justice and fairness. Can
| ad had given the American fishermen
| whole seasons fishing during the summer
and autumn of 1856. The failure of the
American Senate to appoint a commission
to consider the fisheries threw the matter
| back on our hands, and we were compelled
to protect our rights by the enforce
ment of the laws which every ma
tion exercises, and the right to which
all nations concede. The customs authori-
ties were instructed to enforce the laws.
but to exercise care not to employ arbi-
trary measures, and to avoid in all re-
spects procedures which would affect the
strength of our legal position, as well as
unduly annoy the citizens of a neighbor-
tug and friendly nation. Twill say un-
hesitatngly that it has been the en-
deavor of the Government of Canada to
avoid serious friction in protecting our
rights, and that the whole matter has
been one of grave solicitude."
''Sir John, the people of the United
States believe that your government has
enforced the customs and fishery laws as
strictly as possible with the purpose of
endeavoring to force the United States in
to consenting to another commission and
consequent treaty like that Of Washing
tons'
''This is grave error. The Canadian
Government has not attempted to coerce
the United States. On the contrary, does
it not rather appear as if there were sort
of a wolf and the lamb spirit shown. with
Canada as the lamb? ] will be pleased if
you will say that there is no such spirit
on the part of the Canadian Government.
We would be very glad to have another
unders tanding in regard to the fish
cries. We are willing to have re
ciprocity treaty re-enacted in place of the
former one, which was Cancelled, fear
because of the feeling against Great
Britain arising out of the Alabama depre-
dations. Canada will enter into
rangement for = renewal of the privilege
of fishing in our waters and for American
fishermen to obtain supplies, bait and
tranship fish. We have asked for COM
mission to consider the subject. Failing
in obtaining q commission even to con-
slider the questions involved, Canada has,
to the best of her ability protected her.
self'
s'What would be the effect on Canada if
the Belmont bill prohibiting the import Of
all Canadian products and the passage of
railway cars into the United States was
passed?'
Sir John placed his fingers together
pointing upward and, after a moments
pause, said softly: ''That would indeed
be severe, very severe. l can not think
that Congress will proceed to such a
length"
''Will you state what course Canada
will adopt if the Belmont or tho Ed
lnunds bill are put in operation?'
Sir John considered the question men,
tally and responded: seThe Canadian Gov
ernment has acted according to law. 1t
has referred its acts and the reasons
therefor to the Imperial Government of
Great Britain. 1t sees no reasons to /,
change its views. no matter what may
take place in other countries.''
''Then you are willing to say that Cana !
da will not recede from it's present posi-
tion?' |
Sir John responded: ayes, you are at !
liberty to say that Canada's position IS
fixed, regardless of what may be done in i
She United States.''
Sir John was fortified by the counsels !
of Sir Charles Tupper, the Canadian High |
Commissioner to England, who arrived |
at Ottawa from Liverpool yesterday morn
ing.
''What will be the effect on the politics |
of Canada by the passage of the Belmont
or Edmunds bill?"
Sir Charles replied: ''There will be an :
outbreak of patriotism. You will find
that, thstanding the violence of party |
feeling, the opposition to the present Gov
ernment will not admit of disposition to
yield to the demands of the United /
States No government could live in
Canada that attempted to subordinate ma
tional rights to party politics. I scarcely
know of a newspaper in the Dominion that
wishes our treaty rights thrown away.
The opposition may differ on some points
the government insists on, but the cardi-
nal principles are acknowledged by both
parties alike"
Sir John ended the interview by ex-
pressing his personal admiration for GER
tain we'll known American statesmen.
A Plea for the National Banks.
WASHINGTON Ian CR Cnmntrollar |